The Snow Girl Review: A Captivating and Suspenseful Mystery with Dark Themes
The Snow Girl is a Spanish series that is currently available on Netflix. The show tells the story of a missing young girl, her family’s search, and a trainee journalist’s investigation parallel to that of the police. Based on a novel by Javier Castillo, the show’s major focus is on Maren, the reporter, and her obsession with solving the disappearance.
The show’s themes revolve around trauma and loss, examined through the lens of those affected. In this article, we’ll explore The Snow Girl’s narrative, acting, cinematography, pacing, and content, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the series.
The Narrative
The Snow Girl’s narrative is a captivating mystery with dark themes that examine trauma and loss. The story bounces back and forth in the timeline, showing events in the days and even weeks following the disappearance, and then catapults us forward in time to show us events that are closer to the present. The on-screen graphics help us understand the time period and where we are relative to the disappearance.
The show’s major focus is on Maren, the reporter, who becomes obsessed with solving the disappearance. Maren’s experience was traumatic, and that then compels her to want to help someone else in a traumatic situation. The flashbacks to Maren’s past are important to understand her point of view, but they end up adding more time than is necessary to tell the story.
The Acting
The acting in The Snow Girl is convincing, especially from the parents who just have to appear devastated the majority of the time.
The parents do a great job at conveying their hurt and loss while also trying to show some semblance of being able to function in the absence of their daughter. Milena Smith, who portrays Maren, does an excellent job at creating a character who looks haunted and tormented by her past.
The emotional weight of her experience is physically visible in her expressions, body language, and posture.
The Cinematography
The Snow Girl’s cinematography is stunning, with some amazing camera work, especially when the focus is on a character to showcase the depth of their emotions.
There are some moments where the camera will focus in on Maren, putting her right into the center of the frame. It’s in these moments that we are really just peering right into her torment.
Her memories are so raw and visceral, which then translates right through the screen to us.
The Pacing
The pacing of The Snow Girl can feel repetitive at times. The flashbacks are important to understand Maren’s point of view, but they end up adding more time than is necessary to tell the story.
The pacing issue doesn’t necessarily drag, but portions begin to feel repetitive and seemingly going nowhere, especially when it comes to showcasing Maren’s state of mind with her flashbacks from a very traumatic event in her past. There is an opportunity to shave this down and tell a faster story.
The Content
The Snow Girl contains no nudity, but there is a lot of profanity and violence, including many scenes of assaults. The show’s themes revolve around trauma and loss, examined through the lens of those affected.
The show succeeds in shocking and surprising us, with moments that are designed to create tension and increase the mystery.
Summary
The Snow Girl is a captivating and suspenseful mystery with dark themes that examine trauma and loss through the lens of those affected. The acting is convincing, and the cinematography is stunning, with some amazing camera work.
The pacing can feel repetitive at times, but the narrative is suspenseful, leading to an exciting conclusion. There is an opportunity for the show to continue with Maren’s character, and the show’s themes revolve around trauma and loss, examined through the lens of those affected.
While the pacing could use some work trimming down repetitive scenes, all in all, the narrative is captivating and suspenseful, leading to an exciting conclusion. The Snow Girl is a very captivating mystery with very dark themes that examine trauma and loss through the lens of the affected.
Overall, the show is worth watching for those who enjoy a good mystery with dark themes.